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Elimination of ILC

BLS has eliminated the International Labor Comparisons (ILC) program. This is the last scheduled release of new data on international comparisons of labor force statistcs.

Highlights

The unemployment rate is the unemployed as a percentage of the labor force; it is the most widely used measure of an economy’s unused labor supply.
In 2012, the United States had the 6th highest unemployment rate of the 16 countries covered. Spain ranked the highest followed closely by South Africa, while the Republic of Korea maintained the lowest unemployment rate for the year.
For more details on unemploy-ment rates, see page 2 or the Technical Notes.

The employment growth rate measures the change in the number of persons working for a given period.
From 2011 to 2012, employment increased in 12 of the 16 countries compared. Mexico had the highest growth, followed by Turkey. New Zealand showed no change. Spain experienced the steepest decline in employment.
For more details on employment, see page 7 or the Technical Notes.

Unemployment rates

Over the last 7 years, the unemployment rates for the United States and most other countries remained below 10 percent, even during the downturn of the 2009 global recession. However, rates in Spain and South Africa were higher than 15 percent during the period.

Table 1. Unemployment rates (in percent)

1970

1980

1990

2000

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

United States

4.9

7.1

5.6

4.0

4.6

4.6

5.8

9.3

9.6

8.9

8.1

Australia

1.7

6.1

6.9

6.3

4.8

4.4

4.2

5.6

5.2

5.1

5.2

Canada

5.7

7.3

7.7

6.1

5.5

5.2

5.3

7.3

7.1

6.5

6.3

France

2.5

5.6

8.0

8.6

8.9

8.1

7.5

9.2

9.4

9.3

10.0

Germany

0.5

2.8

5.0

7.8

10.3

8.7

7.6

7.8

7.1

5.9

5.5

Italy

3.2

4.4

7.0

10.1

6.9

6.2

6.8

7.9

8.5

8.5

10.8

Japan

1.2

2.0

2.0

4.4

3.6

3.6

3.7

4.8

4.7

4.2

3.9

Korea, Republic of

4.4

5.2

2.4

b 4.4

3.4

3.2

3.2

3.6

3.7

3.4

3.2

Mexico

NA

NA

NA

NA

3.7

3.8

4.1

5.6

b 5.4

5.3

5.1

Netherlands

NA

6.0

7.6

b 3.1

4.3

3.5

3.0

3.7

b 4.5

4.5

5.3

New Zealand

NA

NA

8.0

6.1

3.8

3.7

4.2

6.1

6.5

6.5

6.9

South Africa

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

22.8

23.9

24.9

24.9

25.1

Spain

NA

11.3

15.2

12.0

8.6

8.3

11.4

18.1

20.2

21.8

25.2

Sweden

1.5

2.0

1.8

5.8

7.0

6.1

6.1

8.3

8.5

7.7

7.9

Turkey

NA

NA

NA

NA

8.8

9.0

9.9

12.8

10.9

9.0

8.3

United Kingdom

NA

6.8

7.1

5.5

5.5

5.4

5.7

7.6

7.9

8.1

8.0

Note:NA Not available.(b) indicates a break in series; see country notes for break year and more information.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, International Labor Comparisons

Unemployment rates by sex

Historically, unemployment rates have been higher for women than for men; however, in recent years the reverse has been true in an increasing number of countries. In 2012, unemployment rates for men were higher than for women in 7 of the 16 countries compared: the United States, Canada, Germany, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Table 2. Unemployment rates by sex (in percent)

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Men

Women

Men

Women

Men

Women

Men

Women

Men

Women

United States

6.1

5.4

10.3

8.1

10.5

8.6

9.4

8.5

8.2

7.9

Australia

4.0

4.6

5.7

5.4

5.1

5.4

4.9

5.3

5.2

5.3

Canada

5.8

4.8

8.5

6.1

7.8

6.2

7.0

5.9

6.7

5.8

France

7.0

7.9

9.1

9.4

9.1

9.7

8.9

9.7

9.9

10.0

Germany

7.5

7.7

8.2

7.3

7.6

6.5

6.2

5.6

5.7

5.2

Italy

5.6

8.5

6.9

9.3

7.7

9.7

7.7

9.6

10.0

11.9

Japan

3.2

4.3

4.4

5.2

4.5

5.0

4.1

4.4

3.6

4.2

Korea, Republic of

3.6

2.6

4.1

3.0

4.0

3.3

3.6

3.1

3.4

3.0

Mexico

3.9

4.3

5.5

5.6

b 5.5

b 5.4

5.3

5.3

5.0

5.1

Netherlands

2.8

3.3

3.7

3.7

b 4.4

b 4.5

4.5

4.4

5.4

5.2

New Zealand

4.1

4.2

6.1

6.1

6.2

6.9

6.3

6.7

6.5

7.3

South Africa

19.8

26.4

22.0

26.2

22.8

27.5

22.5

27.8

22.9

27.8

Spain

10.1

13.1

17.9

18.5

19.9

20.6

21.4

22.2

24.9

25.5

Sweden

5.8

6.3

8.6

7.9

8.6

8.4

7.8

7.6

8.2

7.6

Turkey

9.6

10.5

12.6

13.3

10.4

12.0

8.3

10.7

7.7

10.0

United Kingdom

6.2

5.1

8.7

6.4

8.7

6.9

8.8

7.3

8.4

7.4

Note:(b) indicates a break in series; see country notes for break year and more information.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, International Labor Comparisons

Unemployment rates by age

For nearly all countries shown, unemployment rates for teens (15-19) have historically been higher than rates for the other age groups compared. Turkey and the Republic of Korea were the only two countries to have higher unemployment rates for young adults (20-24) than for teens. Japan’s unemployment rates for teens and young adults were virtually the same. Spain and Italy had the largest increases in teen unemployment over the 2009-2012 period.

Table 3. Unemployment rates by age (in percent)

2009

2010

2011

2012

15-19

20-24

25+

15-19

20-24

25+

15-19

20-24

25+

15-19

20-24

25+

United States

24.3

14.7

7.9

25.9

15.5

8.2

24.4

14.6

7.6

24.0

13.3

6.8

Australia

16.5

8.2

4.3

16.8

8.1

3.8

16.1

8.3

3.7

16.7

8.6

3.9

Canada

18.5

11.2

6.1

18.6

10.7

5.9

17.7

10.1

5.4

18.7

10.0

5.1

France

30.9

21.6

7.6

29.7

21.4

7.9

29.4

20.5

7.9

32.8

21.9

8.4

Germany

11.3

11.1

7.3

10.7

9.5

6.8

10.0

8.2

5.6

9.2

7.9

5.2

Italy

40.3

23.0

6.5

45.8

25.0

7.1

48.7

26.3

7.0

56.9

32.1

9.0

Japan

9.5

8.9

4.4

9.9

9.0

4.3

9.0

7.9

3.9

7.6

7.5

3.5

Korea, Republic of

12.3

9.5

3.2

12.1

9.4

3.3

10.6

9.4

3.0

8.7

9.0

2.8

Mexico

11.2

10.1

4.3

b 11.0

b 9.5

b 4.2

10.9

9.7

4.1

10.5

9.5

3.9

Netherlands

9.4

6.1

2.9

b 11.2

b 7.0

b 3.7

10.5

5.7

3.9

12.8

7.2

4.5

New Zealand

23.4

11.5

4.0

24.7

12.0

4.5

25.7

12.2

4.4

25.8

13.1

4.9

South Africa

NA

NA

19.3

NA

NA

20.3

NA

NA

20.6

NA

NA

20.7

Spain

56.4

34.0

16.0

62.3

37.7

18.1

64.6

43.2

19.5

73.3

49.7

22.8

Sweden

35.9

20.0

5.9

35.6

19.9

6.2

33.9

18.1

5.5

35.8

19.0

5.7

Turkey

22.0

24.3

10.5

17.7

21.9

8.9

15.0

18.5

7.3

13.9

17.5

6.9

United Kingdom

26.8

15.3

5.6

29.1

15.3

5.8

31.2

16.5

5.8

30.5

16.9

5.7

Note:NA Not available.(b) indicates a break in series; see country notes for break year and more information.Lower age limits for teens vary by country, see technical notes.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, International Labor Comparisons

Labor force participation rates by sex

The labor force participation rate is the ratio of actual labor force (employed and unemployed) as a percent of the potential labor force (working age population). For more information, see the technical notes.

In 2012, labor force participation rates were higher for men than for women in all 16 countries compared. The lowest gender gaps were in Sweden and Canada, while the largest disparity in gender participation existed in Turkey, Mexico and the Republic of Korea.

Table 4. Labor force participation rates by sex

2009

2010

2011

2012

Men

Women

Total

Men

Women

Total

Men

Women

Total

Men

Women

Total

United States

72.0

59.2

65.4

71.2

58.6

64.7

70.5

58.1

64.1

70.2

57.7

63.7

Australia

73.3

60.1

66.7

73.2

59.8

66.4

73.1

60.0

66.5

72.6

59.9

66.2

Canada

72.0

62.5

67.2

71.8

62.4

67.0

71.7

62.2

66.8

71.4

62.1

66.7

France

61.1

50.9

55.8

61.0

51.0

55.8

60.7

50.9

55.6

61.1

51.2

55.9

Germany

65.3

52.1

58.5

65.1

52.4

58.6

65.6

53.2

59.2

65.5

53.2

59.2

Italy

59.4

38.2

48.4

59.0

38.2

48.1

58.7

38.4

48.1

59.2

39.7

49.0

Japan

71.3

48.1

59.3

70.9

48.1

59.1

70.5

47.7

58.7

69.8

47.7

58.4

Korea, Republic of

73.1

49.2

60.8

73.0

49.4

61.0

73.1

49.7

61.1

73.3

49.9

61.3

Mexico

76.7

41.1

57.9

b 76.5

b 40.7

b 57.6

76.4

41.2

57.8

76.7

42.0

58.4

Netherlands

72.9

59.8

66.2

b 71.1

b 58.4

b 64.6

70.3

58.3

64.2

70.9

58.9

64.8

New Zealand

74.6

62.2

68.2

74.4

62.1

68.1

74.6

62.5

68.4

74.0

62.6

68.2

South Africa

63.7

49.0

56.1

61.8

47.4

54.3

61.2

47.9

54.3

61.7

48.3

54.8

Spain

68.4

51.4

59.7

67.8

52.1

59.8

67.2

52.8

59.8

66.7

53.2

59.8

Sweden

68.9

60.7

64.8

69.3

60.3

64.7

69.3

61.0

65.1

69.2

61.3

65.2

Turkey

69.1

24.1

46.2

69.6

25.6

47.2

70.6

26.7

48.3

70.0

27.2

48.3

United Kingdom

70.2

56.8

63.4

69.8

56.8

63.2

69.7

57.0

63.2

69.8

57.2

63.4

Note:(b) indicates a break in series; see country notes for break year and more information.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, International Labor Comparisons

Labor force participation rates by age

In 2012, participation rates were highest among young adults between the ages of 20 to 24 in 6 of the 10 countries for which data were available. The United Kingdom had the highest participation rates for young adults while the Republic of Korea had the lowest rates for this age group.

Adults over 25 had higher participation rates than young adults and teens (15-19) in the other 4 countries compared, which included the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Spain and Turkey.

Table 5. Labor force participation rates by age

2009

2010

2011

2012

15-19

20-24

25+

15-19

20-24

25+

15-19

20-24

25+

15-19

20-24

25+

United States

37.5

72.9

67.0

34.9

71.4

66.5

34.1

71.3

65.8

34.3

70.9

65.4

Canada

58.6

76.7

66.9

57.2

76.2

66.9

57.2

76.1

66.6

55.4

75.2

66.6

Germany

31.3

70.3

59.6

30.3

69.5

59.7

30.3

70.3

60.3

28.4

68.9

60.5

Japan

14.9

68.3

61.4

14.5

68.1

61.3

14.0

68.0

60.8

14.2

67.5

60.5

Korea, Republic of

6.2

49.2

67.0

7.0

48.9

67.1

7.6

48.0

67.3

7.7

48.9

67.3

Mexico

29.0

60.1

64.3

b 28.9

b 60.6

b 63.8

28.7

60.1

63.9

28.4

60.5

64.6

New Zealand

51.0

73.4

69.7

47.8

73.2

69.8

45.6

74.6

70.2

44.3

75.0

70.0

Spain

24.3

65.9

61.1

21.2

64.0

61.5

19.2

62.6

61.7

17.3

60.6

61.9

Turkey

25.6

48.9

49.0

25.0

49.6

50.3

24.9

51.5

51.3

23.7

50.4

51.5

United Kingdom

46.4

82.0

63.1

44.4

81.9

63.0

43.4

81.6

63.1

44.0

81.8

63.2

Note:(b) indicates a break in series; see country notes for break year and more information.Lower age limits for teens vary by country, see technical notes.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, International Labor Comparisons

Employment-population ratios and composition of employment by sector

The percentage of the working age population employed has remained between 50 and 65 percent in most countries covered over the past 40 years, but the share of the working age population employed in each sector has shifted over time. The share of the working age population employed in agriculture dropped by more than half in all countries covered except the Netherlands, and the share of the working age population employed in industry (manufacturing, mining, and construction) fell in all countries covered except the Republic of Korea and Turkey. In contrast, the share of the working age population employed in services increased in all countries covered, and by 2012, the share was nearly at or above 40 percent in the majority of countries covered.

Working age population

The working age population is the noninstitutional population generally 16 years and over, or the potential population available to work. For more information on working age population, see the technical notes.

The United States working age population was more than twice as large as the next largest country compared (Japan). Between 2006 and 2012, the working age population in the United States grew faster than in Japan and in all European countries compared, but grew more slowly than in the remaining countries.

Table 7. Working age population, in thousands, 1970-2012

1970

1980

1990

2000

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

United States

137,085

167,745

189,164

212,577

228,815

231,867

233,788

235,801

237,830

239,618

243,284

Australia

8,819

10,778

13,051

14,902

16,371

16,701

17,020

17,400

17,773

18,052

18,332

Canada

14,528

18,032

20,852

23,687

25,711

26,094

26,486

26,883

27,250

27,578

27,922

France

36,980

40,601

44,152

46,871

49,250

49,559

49,826

50,057

50,294

50,557

50,782

Germany

46,094

49,848

53,438

69,365

70,892

70,968

71,021

70,943

70,858

70,978

71,274

Italy

40,279

43,860

48,016

48,029

49,913

50,301

50,711

51,064

51,311

51,579

51,729

Japan

78,616

89,078

100,656

108,120

110,059

110,419

110,630

110,761

110,881

110,882

110,752

Korea, Republic of

17,468

24,463

30,887

36,186

38,762

39,170

39,598

40,092

40,590

41,052

41,582

Mexico

NA

NA

NA

NA

74,282

75,538

76,761

78,314

b 81,969

83,399

85,023

Netherlands

NA

10,588

11,865

b 12,703

13,128

13,190

13,271

13,368

13,460

13,540

13,629

New Zealand

NA

NA

2,612

2,938

3,252

3,297

3,335

3,379

3,427

3,465

3,492

South Africa

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

30,967

31,494

32,007

32,494

32,959

Spain

NA

26,370

30,160

33,430

36,920

37,575

38,112

38,325

38,375

38,398

38,334

Sweden

6,106

6,441

6,823

7,043

7,312

7,387

7,467

7,547

7,620

7,682

7,732

Turkey

NA

NA

NA

NA

49,174

49,994

50,772

51,686

52,541

53,593

54,724

United Kingdom

NA

42,582

44,717

46,085

48,197

48,611

48,998

49,355

49,726

50,095

50,473

Note:NA Not available(b) indicates a break in series; see country notes for break year and more information.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, International Labor Comparisons

Technical Notes

This report presents selected labor force statistics adjusted to U.S. concepts for 1970 onward for
the United States and fifteen foreign countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the
Republic of Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and
the United Kingdom. For more information see technical notes or country notes.

UNEMPLOYMENT
In the United States, unemployment includes all persons who, during the reference week:

• Had no employment,

• Were available for work, except for temporary illness, and

• Had actively sought work during the 4-week period ending with the reference week.

Active job search methods are those that have the potential to result in a job offer without further action on the part of the jobseeker. For example, sending a resume to an employer would be considered active, whereas simply reading newspaper advertisements would not.

Persons who were waiting to start a new job must have fulfilled these criteria to be considered unemployed. However, persons who were waiting to be recalled to a job from which they had been laid off need not have been looking for work.

The unemployment rate represents the percentage of persons in the labor force who are unemployed.

EMPLOYMENT
According to U.S. definitions, employment includes all persons who, during the reference week:

• Worked at least 1 hour as paid employees, worked in their own business, profession, or on their own farm, or worked at least 15 hours as unpaid workers in a family-operated enterprise, and

• All those who did not work but had jobs or businesses from which they were temporarily absent due to vacation, illness, bad weather, childcare problems, maternity or paternity leave, labor- management dispute, job training, or other family or personal reasons, regardless of whether they were paid for the time off or were seeking other jobs.

Each employed person is counted only once, even if he or she holds more than one job. For purposes of industry classification, multiple jobholders are counted in the job at which they worked the greatest number of hours during the reference week.

Persons whose only activity consisted of work around their own house (painting, repairing, or own home housework) or volunteer work for religious, charitable, and other organizations are excluded.

EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR
Employment levels and distributions are shown for four broad economic sectors: agriculture, industry, manufacturing (a sub-sector of industry), and services.

Sectoral employment data are based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for the United States for 2000 onward, Canada for 1976 onward, and Mexico for 2005 onward. Data for Japan are based on the Japanese Standard Industrial Classification System (JSIC). For all other countries covered, sectoral employment data are based on the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC). Effects of the change in classification system are discussed in the country notes.

LABOR FORCE
The labor force is comprised of persons who are in employment and unemployment. All members of the working-age population are eligible for inclusion in the labor force, and those 16 and over (in the United States; age limits vary by country) who have a job or are actively looking for one are so classified. All others—those who have no job and are not looking for one—are counted as "not in the labor force."

The labor force participation rate represents the proportion of the working-age population that is in the labor force. Conversely, the inactivity rate represents the proportion of the working-age population that is not in the labor force. All persons in the civilian non-institutional working-age population who are neither employed nor unemployed are considered not in the labor force. Many who do not participate in the labor force are going to school or are retired. Family responsibilities keep others out of the labor force. Still others have a physical or mental disability which prevents them from participating in labor force activities.

WORKING-AGE POPULATION
The labor market statistics provided in this report describe the working-age population. In the United States, the working-age population is more specifically known as the civilian non- institutional working-age population:

• "Civilian" refers to persons who are not on active duty in the military;Had no employment,

• "Non-institutional" refers to persons who are not in institutions, such as prison inmates or those in a mental institution; and